The Minister of State for Education and Sports, Hon. Peter Ogwang (Sports), has, in a statement jointly issued by the Attorney General, said pharmacy degrees issued by Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) are valid.
Minister Ogwang’s statement comes amid uproar over a statement issued by the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda (PSU), disputing the validity of the academic programme.
“Pharmacy students at MUST and the general public are assured that the Pharmacy programme at MUST is proceeding lawfully; there should be no alarm that present and future students might not practice their profession,” he said.
Narrating the chronology of the crisis, Minister Ogwang attributed the issuance of a notice by PSU withdrawing recognition of the qualification as unfounded, since concerns raised by the pharmaceutical regulatory body were addressed by the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE), with their involvement.
He added that the position of Head of Department of Pharmacy at the university, which caused contention following claims the acting office holder lacks requisite qualifications, is to be re-advertised.
“…the university has appointed Dr Jonans Tusiimire, a pharmacist and senior lecturer, who is also the Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences and the President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Uganda, as Acting Head of the Department of Pharmacy for three months with effect from 19th October 2026,” he said.
Hon. Denis Oneka Lit (FDC, Kitgum Municipality) attributed the crisis to internal politics and intrigue at the university, which he asked the minister to investigate.
“When you listen to the minister, there is conflict of interest in MUST…the minister should go and investigate whether there are internal conflicts in the institution,” he said.
MP Gerald Karuhanga (Indep., Ntungamo Municipality) said the only way the bickering can end is to substantially fill the position of Head of Department.
“Let us do everything possible to find resources to ensure these positions are filled,” he said.
Internal bickering, Hon. Andrew Kaluya said, is unfairly costly to students, who could have their qualifications disputed. “Students should never be victims of infighting,” he said.
The stand-in Government Chief Whip, Hon. David Bahati, who is substantially state minister for trade, said legal uncertainties over the supremacy of the PSU and NCHE will be cured by an amendment to be tabled soon-Ug. Parliament. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
